Dilapidated and overloaded water system to be fixed

Water is a basic need but for some families it is a need that is difficult to satisfy due to prolonged water cuts faced in their areas.

For many people it has become a norm for them to wake up in the morning and to have no running water from their taps.

For others, the same situation is faced in the afternoons and into the night.

The lack of water affects students going to school, people going to work and keeping a clean environment.

The issue we face is a longstanding one, and the main reason is that for more than 40 years, our water supply system in the now densely populated areas, like the Suva to Nausori corridor, is overloaded and out of date.

Through the multimillion dollar ADB funding, work is now underway to tackle the issue however it cannot be a quick fix.

In the past, a burst main would just result in a band aid solution but would not fix the real problem.

Major upgrading works are now underway at the Tamavua and Waila treatment plants, and improvements are expected in the next few months.

ADB Project Manager for the Water Authority of Fiji, Roly Hayes explained the state of the Suva-Nausori system when he first took over the project.